What on earth is "spiritual mapping", it sounds like a branch of the Ordnance Survey (UK map makers)! What scripture does this take flight from? Who is its major proponent?

I am studying Daniel at the moment - Daniel 10 - and can't help feeling this is the/a tenuous link to the practice.

Apologies to anyone that thinks this should be in a different forum.

Originally Posted by Eoghan

What on earth is "spiritual mapping", it sounds like a branch of the Ordnance Survey (UK map makers)! What scripture does this take flight from? Who is its major proponent?

Let me google that for you

My first thought was that Google had finally mapped out the sanctification of the human population.

It is "Strategic level spiritual warfare" and another missiological fad. Another Peter Wagner and Neil Anderson-ish take on spiritual realities.

Spiritual mapping posits that there are 'territorial spirits" and by our prayers against these entities and reclaiming these territories under the control of these spirits we can help the evangelization of an area.

The advocates of this view use Daniel as a proof text. Also, some charismatic missionaries have interviewed demons to try to ascertain which demons arere in control of what region (assuming that demons are reliable interviewees). Also, some short-term misssion groups have arranged "prayer walking" to surround a town with prayer to deliver it from local demons.

Originally Posted by Pergamum

Also, some charismatic missionaries have interviewed demons to try to ascertain which demons arere in control of what region (assuming that demons are reliable interviewees).

I shudder to think to how one would schedule an interview.

If I didn't know charismania as well as I do I would think you were joking about your above post.

Here is a summary I wrote for some new missionary candidates who asked:

Territorial spirits?

It is reasonable to believe that certain angels, as well as certain demons, have been given specialized tasks and possibly even areas assigned to them. The Prophet Daniel, in chapter 10, may be speaking of a situation where spiritual powers battle over certain geographical areas (Daniel 10:13,14,20). Also, Isaiah 34:14 speaks of God leaving Edom desolate and as a place of habitation only for various animals, but also demons (“night creatures” or even “demons” most probably being a better rendering). So it is possible that certain geographical areas might be associated with demons, and possibly certain individual demons. It is even possible that some of the names of local Gods and Goddesses derive from the personalities of these local demons.

However, I do not think there is sufficient Biblical data to form a biblical doctrine of territorial spirits.

Such things are speculation at best. The Daniel reference to “The Prince” in Daniel 10, presumably a spirit being, could also be referring to a human personage such as Cambyses, one of Cyrus’ princes, who was actively prohibiting the building of the temple, the topic for which Daniel was praying. Also, it is hard to swallow that an angel sent from heaven could be blocked for 21 days by a territorial spirit. Why would an angel even need go from heaven through Babylon to get to Jerusalam, as if the path from heaven to Jerusalem necessarily went through Persia? Unclear texts make wobbly doctrinal supports.

Despite the lack of clear biblical evidences for territorial spirits, some spiritual warfare advocates have attempted to “map” the territories of different spiritual beings. Some have set out on “prayer walks” to bind the regional demons through prayer so that the Gospel, at least, can penetrate these unreached areas.

This is folly. Save the money and pray from home, your soles need not circumnavigate an area for your prayers to be received in heaven.

Finally, we need to ask this question: is God any less powerful in one geographical location than another? Is His control any less in one place as compared to another placed based on the strength of the local deities worshipped by the lost in a particular locale? Not at all. For instance, though, the K__ Tribe where I work may fear the demons Saip and Walupul, and there may, indeed, be spiritual realities behind these fears, my methodology does not change in the least. The Gospel is what is needed.

Good stuff Perg.